Plans to recreate historic march

THE Men from Snowy River march commenced in Delegate in 1916, and travelled through Bombala, Nimmitabel,Cooma, Queanbeyan, Bungendore and dozens of small villages and hamlets in between before finally arriving in Goulburn.

The men who marched were heading to fight in World War 1 and they carried with them their now famous “Men From Snowy River’ banner that now is kept in the Australian War Memorial.

Plans to recreate the historic march in November 2015 are well underway with a meeting held recently at the Cooma Ex Services Club.

Event organiser Penelope Judge said the memorial march was in the planning stage but organisers were seeking volunteers to make it a success.

“The march organisers will be seeking support from community groups to provide entertainment, catering, and accommodation for the marchers,” she said.

“Any community group who would like to be involved can contact the Delegate Progress Association and collect an expression of interest form which will outline the many ways that groups or individuals can be involved.

“We will be seeking sponsorship for the unavoidable expenses of the march, fuel for support vehicles, bus transport, catering when the communities can’t be involved, outfits and boots for the marchers, and a myriad other needs.”

The march, which started with 12 men at Delegate and ended with 148 at Goulburn, is planned to be one of many “Coo-ee Marches” in regional NSW taking place in November next year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War 1.

Mrs Judge said that talks with police and councils had revealed that the route will have to remain similar to the original routes.

“We have been advised that the marchers will not be able to march on main highways without extensive backup which would come at an exorbitant cost but we can utilise several back roads which will enable participants to actually walk the route in places,” she said.

“The march will be able to march through the townships with police and council support.”